That's great Tracy!! I'm so glad you are giving this a try. This is such a powerful habit to embrace!

Thanks!

I love that, Mary! You are absolutely right - putting a verse to a melody is a very effective memorization strategy. (That's what the book of Psalms is all about-it's the Bible's hymn book.) However, I have personally found the method in this video more effective for larger portions of Scripture (when I'm looking to memorize 100 verses or more). Thanks for watching!

Worshipping God as creator - great pick!

Not sure what passage you are referring to. 1 Peter 3:3-4 maybe? "Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." This passage doesn't forbid those things - it's just a redirect of our attention from outward beauty to inward beauty before God. My wedding ring is a show of the commitment of the heart, not an attempt for outward beauty. (I don't think it would get me that far!).

Glad you are diving into the book Chery! I have found knowing these views helps me understand where others are coming from when I talk to them about Revelation, or when I read an author's views on the book. Happy reading!

Thank you for watching the video and commenting Carl. John sees the church in a time of tribulation, even in his day, which it certainly was. In chapter 1, he was not referencing the specific time period he would prophesy about in Chapters 6-19, the final Great Tribulation. John certainly lived in a time of terrible tribulation. Domitian demanded he be confessed as Lord and had 40,000 Christians killed. Most likely, this is why John was exiled to Patmos. The church was under terrible persecution. He communicated that the church was in the “last hour” (1 John 2:18). The church has faced tremendous tribulation since its birth, but I would distinguish between this general tribulation and Daniel’s 70th week, the final 7-year tribulation. The saints in heaven before the throne in Revelation 7:9 are the saints of all ages, including the church. Yet there will be saints on earth enduring the Great Tribulation who will be martyred by the Antichrist (the Beast). He will make war and conquer these saints (Revelation 13:7). I believe the church will have been raptured and will be with the Lord in Heaven at this point (as you referenced in Rev. 7:9). Those saints belonging to the time of the church cannot be conquered by the antichrist. (Mt. 16:18). I agree with you that we are not destined for God’s wrath. The church saints will not be on earth to see God's wrath in the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments.

@@pastorjohngreen I hear what you’re saying but the translators chose to use the word “the” not “in” tribulation in Rev 1:9. As a matter of fact I have been unable to find an English translation that uses “in” regarding that verse. So imho your argument is extremely weak. John then again refers to the tribulation in verses 7:9 and 14. How do you reconcile that? Verses 1:9, 7:9 and 7:14 of Rev make perfect sense. I’m no scholar but seems to me pretribers have to ignore these verses or change their meaning to make them fit their narrative.

@@Carl-bd1rf That’s a good observation Carl. The way I have understood this is in light of John’s outline for the book in Rev. 1:19, where Jesus tells him to “write therefore the things that you have seen (Chapter 1:9-20), those things that are (chapter 2-3), and those that are to take place after this (Chapters 4-22). The tribulation John is referring to in 1:9 is the current tribulation he has experienced with the church since its birth. The tribulation referenced in chapter 7 (during the seal judgments) is a much more severe tribulation yet to come that Jesus spoke about (Mt. 24:21 - For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been form the beginning of the world until now, and never will be.) In my understanding, this allows for both the tribulation the church faced during John’s time, (as well as our time), but still recognizes a time of distinct and incredible tribulation yet to come.

@@pastorjohngreen I hear what you’re saying. I believe Jesus said after the abomination that causes desolation occurs the world will see such great tribulation as never before or ever will. Another question I have that no one seems to have an answer for is where does scripture state that “the tribulation” is synonymous with Daniel’s 70th week. It’s obvious Daniel’s 70th week is a time of great tribulation but I can’t find where it says it’s “the tribulation”? We see in Revelation that John speaks to “the tribulation” and Gods wrath as separate time periods. Again I’m not a biblical scholar but I find it interesting how John speaks to two different time periods and today the church leaders want to combine the periods into one.

Honestly, I'm confused about that, too, Tim. I saw "3 comments," but yours is the first I've seen. ??

@@pastorjohngreen YT hates truth.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I always leave room for interpretation when it comes to end-times views. I share what I find to be the most compelling view. The word “rapture” is not in the Bible, you are correct. The Greek word is “harpazo” (1 Thess. 4:17), which means “to snatch away.” In Latin, it is translated as “rapturo.” This is where the word rapture originates. In the days of Noah, God judges wicked humanity and delivers the righteous. This is the teaching of the rapture. The righteous church will be snatched away before the wrath of God falls on the earth. The saints in the tribulation, however, will not be given safety. The Beast (Antichrist) will be allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them (Rev. 13:7). This doesn’t fit with the days of Noah. I’m not looking to argue (I know there are many views!), but just showing there is validity behind the view of the rapture worth considering. The important truth is that Jesus is coming again - and hopefully, that truth unites us even in our different opinions on the details of that return.

@@pastorjohngreen nope, those who endure to the end will be saved. As a pastor, you will be held accountable for what you are preaching.

You are right! 4 of them will be released to wipe out 1/3 of humanity. The Trumpet Judgments will be terrible. Revelation 9:14-15 ...to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind."

Because people who are out of hope and struggling in life need someone to listen to them, genuinely care about them, and share truth with them that can change their lives and give them hope.

@@pastorjohngreen I agree. I just dont think it should be an imaginary being that does it.

Becuase broken people need hope, and that is exactly what Jesus gives. It is not only a privilege to share hope with those who have lost it, but a responsibility to those who love the Lord. I wish more would do it - there is a lot of hopelessness out there.